As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the new work Gates to Memory, a powerful multidisciplinary performance that weaves together movement, sound, and storytelling to embody the echoes of ancestral dreams and histories. Through the artistry of dance, music, photography, and light, the work conjures spaces where the past, present, and future collide—where memory is not just remembered, but felt, breathed, and lived anew. 

Co-choreographed and performed by Ella Williams and Stela Dara, this deeply personal and evocative piece honours whakapapa, identity, and transformation. Ella, of Canadian, Trinidadian, and Pākehā NZ descent, uses dance as a vehicle for liberation, creating work that opens pathways for thought and change. Stela, a Brazilian-born artist, fuses her cultural heritage with her craft, forging spaces where collaboration and expression flourish. Together, they navigate the intersections of history and imagination, building worlds that honour their lineages while forging new futures. 

The performance is further elevated by the contributions of a visionary creative team including Amio (Renati Waaka) a Māori photographer whose work explores whakapapa, fluidity, and identity in a contemporary, decolonising Aotearoa. Chilean lighting designer and light artist, Elekis Poblete Teirney, known for her striking, ephemeral designs that transform the stage into an immersive landscape of memory and possibility. Renowned author and conceptual music artist, Jeanelle Frontin, bringing depth and resonance through her sonic storytelling, creating an aural world that bridges time and space. 

Gates to Memory invites audiences to witness the intimate act of remembering—of reclaiming lost stories and forging new ones through embodied performance. It is a call to honour those who came before, to hold space for those yet to come, and to move forward with the wisdom of the past woven into every step. 

Join us in this world premiere and step through the gates where memory becomes movement, and history dances anew.

He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.

Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous arts in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step.Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely 'local' yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.

Kia Mau Festival offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.